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I've only had experience with floating lifts and never had any issues. I would imagine your lake and dock will dictate the type of lift but I could be wrong. Is it going to be a floating dock?

I've recently given some thought to the topic and things that came to my mind were ...

How will the lift mount? Floating is typically from the front so you can make the width whatever size you needed? With a wide slip you wouldn't have to fold in board racks. That would be huge!

I was thinking the same thing on length, I think 30 ft is a good number.

Consider going ahead and running electrical outlets and lighting.

Obviously have the roof high enough you can raise the boat without having to fold the tower. Also on the roof, I was thinking have overhang if possible to help shade the boat as well as keep rain off of it when it's windy?

My father in law always likes to tell me what the water temp is from his gauge on the dock.

And I think there is some sort of requirement to have a fake owl in there somewhere.

Boat houses are not used much up in my region, and the only reason I can think of is because the ice action in the spring would tear them apart. The one's I have seen that I really like were set back on the beach and have tracks running into the water and the boat runs on a cradle and winched up/down on the tracks and protects you from water level fluctuations. The really trick ones have a loft above with a useable living space and are plumbed and wired and could double as a guest cabin. The other option would be to put a flat roof on it and use it as deck area.

What we call a 'boat house' up in the northy is basically a shed near the water that you stash all of your gear and junk in.